CHILDREN were delighted as the Huddersfield Easter Fair kicked off a six-day run – but opinion was divided on its new home.
Kirklees Council sparked controversy by moving the fair to Greenhead Park less than a year after the Chinese State Circus caused widespread damage.
The circus machinery churned up the main arena last May leaving gigantic wheel ruts in the grass
Neil Small, a resident of Park Drive, to the north of the park, said the fair was disturbing his peace and quiet.
Mr Small, who has lived by the park for more than 30 years, said there had been no consultation from the council.
He said: “It’s never been this close before and it’s a bit loud.
“Only 70m away there’s a variety of speakers and noisy machines and we’ve got this for the next five or six days.
“I never recall it starting so early [in the day] and being so loud. It’s much worse than when the circus was here and it’s made worse this year because they took down some trees.”
But teacher, Abdul Majeed, said his two youngsters Eisa, 5 and Musa, 4 had enjoyed the fair and the games where they had both won prizes.
Abdul, from Crosland Moor, said: “It was good, it’s more geared towards little ones this time.
“But it’s smaller compared to what it used to be like when it was down on Leeds Road.”
Marsh residents, Margaret and Brian Grainger, said they usually walked their dog in the park but weren’t overly put-out by the fair’s presence.
Margaret said: “You just have to do a different route. They have tried to be fairly responsible.
“We’ve watched it go up because we come most days and just about every vehicle has got ply-wood underneath.”
But park-goer, Kim Dyson from Longwood, said there was no where else as central to hold the fair.
She added: “I’d like to see how bad it is at the end. I hope they’ve learned their lessons from last year and tidy up.”
